Farm-to-table breakfast/brunch at Johny’s Diner on weekends

Johny’s Diner in Albany this weekend (8/25) is launching a limited menu of items made exclusively from food from local farmers and producers. Fare includes carrot-cake pancakes, pumpkin-pie pancakes, scrambled eggs with corn salsa, caprese omelet and apple-peach-brie burger.

The farm-to-table breakfast/brunch menu is available 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to noon Sundays. The regular menu is also available.

Johny’s is located at 66 Central Ave.

Steve Barnes

24 Responses

So disappointed in Johny’s the last 2 times I have visited for breakfast. The general appearance and cleanliness of the place (including employees) has taken a downturn since they opened. Plus the hours appear to be constantly changing.

We truly had some of the worst service I’ve ever experienced recently and I’m not even expecting much from a countertop diner on Central Ave. The coffee (which is very good) was poured into a clear plastic pitcher for some reason after being made. I think its so that they can make another pot and don’t have a 2nd glass one, but it just doesn’t taste the same coming out of plastic. 2 friends and I each had a portion of our order missing (Homefries for 1 and toast for 2) and they were just too overwhelmed with the place a quarter full to even ask for it to be corrected. We had to ask for silverware after our meals arrived, which came in a crumpled up damp napkin. We then had to ask for ketchup. Then getting frustrated, I asked the tremendously inexperienced waitress what I might want since she just gave me pancakes and french toast? She just looked at me blankly and shrugged her shoulders. I then had to ask for syrup.
We couldn’t get out of there quick enough, but she then had trouble adding up our bill on a calculator next to the register. She yelled down to the owner/cook that it must be broken but he just ignored her. Seeing her struggle earlier with the credit card machine, which plugs into the restaurants main phone line, which is a cell, we knew we would be paying cash to make it easier.

Although it sounds like a good idea, I do not think they should be trying new things when they can’t even get normal service right. Sadly, I do not think they will be around much longer with service like this.

Wow PC, you sound like a jerk. I don’t feel bad that your pretension led to your unhappiness. If you are unhappy with your food say something, don’t snipe on a blog. If you don’t get something, ask politely, don’t passive aggressively ask for it. Some people deserve exactly what they get in this life.

Unlike the first poster, I have had great experiences at Johny’s. We have consistently had attentive, friendly, speedy service complete with casual chit chat with the owner and servers (exactly what I’d expect from a small counter-top diner).

Upon hearing of my husband’s love for scrapple (pork-based breakfast meat), the owner even tracked some down and served it to him the next time we came in.

As for the credit card payment – it’s easy and takes less than 30 seconds. There’s even an “Apply tip” button and you can select a percentage.

Further, having been a server, I can tell you that most are not psychic. Having to ask for a condiment is the most trivial of offenses and not one for which I would slight a server and especially not an entire establishment.

I agree with you too #1 (PC), 100%! I didn’t know they changed their hours once again a while back and then realized they were open days again on my own by checking the website again. They haven’t been very good at posting specials and I can’t access facebook from work so recommended that they post on their website they did on and off not regular so I’m not going to go out of my way to try to go there anymore. I wanted to see them do well, all mom and pop type places which I prefer over chain restaurants any day but! They definitely don’t have their act together.

I too liked their specials but I called and spoke to owner the specials are listed on Facebook and in house only they said its too hard o update the regular web page and as for hours they were on summer hours now they are back to regular hours. I have never had a bad experience there ever. The owner works side by side with the server so I highly doubt she was as bad as you say. You mights just stay eating brunch somewhere more expensive ok number one. Johnys is good food and I truly believe they do it well grey Job johnys

#1 A bad experience at Johnny’s? That is laughable… I have been going there since the begining way back in April. The owner/chef Mike and His wife Cassie work very hard and try to talk to ALL who walk through that door. So thats hard to believe as for the hours they are kind of screwy but they just had a baby lost their partner and summer business in Albany sucks I know I am a waiter here. They are back to their original hours, I have always had nothing but GREAT things to say for the place. the man can cook he is a very talkanted chef I knew him from Caseys and will always support him. They do have a new server it’s her first serving job, most of us start some where she is trying to do it there, yes shes raw but she is so nice and friendly, the place is spotless so tell me where you found it to be dirty #1???????? and they all wear a uniform so again #1 let us all know????? Good luck to the new menu see you guys Saturday.

Been there several times and have gotten take out a few times also since they opened and the food is good. I wasn’t unhappy with the food, it was the service.

#1- There was no pretension involved. As I said, I’d been there several times previously and actually brought a friend from out of town there bc I found the food good. The Irish french toast used to be awesome (prepared like Miss Albany Diner did) and I recommended it to the out of towner, but then inexplicably the way they prepare it has changed for the worse. If they weren’t so overwhelmed I would have said something about each of us having an item missing, but at that point we chose not to and just wanted to get out there bc it was a slow ordeal. A generous tip was still left for girl.

#3- I too have been a server and it doesn’t take a psychic to know that patrons might need silverware when the meal has already been delivered. I agree that Ketchup and syrup aren’t hard to ask for, but it’s pretty customary to give them to a patron with potatoes and pancakes in front of them. It was the combination of all the things that went wrong that led me to my opinion and probable lack of future patronization.

#4- I want them to do well also. Just being honest. The hours changing constantly throughout the summer was frustrating. More than once I tried to go there and they were closed.

#5- Sorry if it was her first day or week, but she was terrible. He was cooking and she was running around struggling to serve about 25% of the place’s capacity. What does cost have to do with it?

#6- It was laughably bad. It was a terrible experience. I found it dirty bc the counters were not wiped down and were sticky from the previous patrons. So were the menus. The napkin actually looked used. It was damp and crumpled up around the silverware that we had to ask for. She may have had them in her pocket. The counter near the register was a cluttered mess. Not that I would expect one, but she was definitely not wearing a uniform. I do think he is a great chef though and wish him well.

#2 Trojan – Why not give PC a break? You like the place, does that mean no one else could have had a bad experience? PC said he did, and he gave a few specific examples. Maybe it was a bad day, but one thing’s clear from postings about Johny’s today, and previously, is that it runs hot and cold. Too many people have had bad experiences to discount them as fussy people….IMO.

To JC. I am very sorry you had very bad service in our diner. Feel free to contact me 518-253-8612. I want the opportunity to make it up to you. As for the Irish ft we have not changed the way we make it just sauce is served on side no a top any more. I am truly sorry for your experience it is unacceptable and will be addressed right away. I take to heart these comments

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Johny’s. I should say that I at least really enjoyed the food. Everything tasted fresh and was very well made. Great value too! The only reason I haven’t been back is the stools/counter. It is just way too uncomfortable. I have no problem with food taking a little extra time to be made fresh, but when I have to spend that extra time almost sitting on the floor with my knees banged up against the counter it unfortunately limits my ability to return to Johny’s Diner. However, this new menu could make me reconsider.

I work down the street from Johny’s and was excited when they reopened for lunchtime. A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by for a sandwich and as I walked in, realized it was 5 minutes until the lunchtime closing. The owner was not there, a young male server greeted me. I noted the time, apologized for coming in right before closing, and asked if it was too late for me to order some food. I was told very clearly that it wasn’t too late and that they could make my order. Without getting into the details, it became abundantly apparent that it, in fact, was too late and the meal I ordered (to-go) was inedible. The owner was not there, but I wanted to post this comment so that either they could adjust their hours accordingly or so people know to get there by 12:30 for lunch.

That said, the first time I went there, they were very gracious and the food was good. Again, that time I thought they were open (open sign on, door open), but it turned out they were closed. The owner served me anyways with no hint that they might actually not be open.

I live near there and would never go in that place. the hrs have changed 10 times since theyve been open and sometimes theyre not even open when the sign says they should be. Ive watched 5 or 6 businesses leave that spot since original johnnys hot dogs closed, i bet it has to do with the rent. Steve must be a friend cause ive seen 4 stories aobut this place in 6 months, they dont deserve the publicity. as for them just having a baby, why open a place when a newborn is on the way.

I have always had a good meal there. I have talked to the owner plenty of times and he and she stated the hours changed so much over the summer because they were trying to keep the business going. When everyone left town for the summer the lunch and day business went with it. Just look around the buttery closed dirty fans closes for the entire month of August so I do t blame them give them a break. As for the last commement. The only people that work there ate the owners and one woman server not a young man server. And the owner had to be there because they are the only ones who do the cooking. Were you at tight place. And to the one above. I don’t think Steve is friends with them he is just supporting what they are trying to do. And they do it well for most part. An some times having a baby happens. Good luck to mike Cassie an family. John will always be a loyal customer

While I knew of Michael Ward through our respective families, I had never met or spoken to him until he opened Johny’s. He has gotten posts posts on the blog because, in order of their appearance:

1) He opened, and that was news.
2) I went for breakfast and was impressed by the quality and value and wanted to share my findings with readers.
3) He changed the menu and/or added specials and told me about it, because he had previously found that a mention on Table Hopping brought in new customers.
4) Cheryl Clark reviewed Johny’s and I linked to the review.

None of those is any different than criteria I use for every other restaurant covered on the blog.

id like to see another restaurant that got 5 posts in 4 months after opening. this business wont survive, you need the neighborhood to solicit your business somewhat and thats not happening. since theyve been open ive been asked by a passing pedestrian a few times where theres a diner close by and i always suggest it so im not a hater. Ive worked in the restaurant biz and i believe that if you post your hours and then are not open those times then you are not worth my business and that has happened twice. doesnt matter the excuse or rationalization other than extreme emergencies.

To john – whos everyone who left for the summer and where did they go? if youre thinking the students are/were patronizing johnys then youre wrong

Hey Brian wake up the place is full of students Thursday Friday and Saturday nights. Stop by then. And weekend mornings the place is busy with family’s and guess what yup students an their family’s. Ramona’s on lark and SAMs both open when they feel like it and they have managed to stay in business lol. Johnys food is great that’s why people go here.